Doting East Kilbride dad wows kids each Halloween with spooktacular pumpkin carving creations
Spooky season is made extra special for East Kilbride kids Blaire and Caleb McKenna thanks to their doting dad’s spooktacular pumpkin carving skills. Jamie McKenna told Lanarkshire Live each Halloween his little trick or treaters task him with an even more difficult design than the last. His crafty creations over the years include superheroes Spider-Man and Batman and Robin, Star Wars favourites The Mandalorian and Grogu, Disney’s Stitch and Bluey and even pop star Harry Styles. An impressive Dogpool, Deadpool & Wolverine topped off this year’s efforts, which proved to be the trickiest so far with Beetlejuice and stars of Deadpool & Wolverine putting Jamie’s carving skills to the test. Even Dogpool managed to make an appearance!
Pub manager Jamie, 40, shared, “It all started with my daughter Blaire (nine) asking for a superhero pumpkin. I am creative but I’m no artist so I wanted to try and carve without going all the way through the pumpkin. I had seen some amazing artists on Instagram but started with a traced Spider-Man and used a Dremel to shave it away – and I was over the moon with the results.” He continued, “Blaire and Caleb will both throw bigger and harder requests like last year’s Harry styles and Deadpool. Every year I try something a bit harder and try learn from every one I do. I love the challenge and still can’t draw so all designs start as a printed picture and I cut and trace the details onto the pumpkin with a sharpie and carve with a craft knife.”
The feedback for the pumpkins is always fun with the odd question about how Jamie carves them. He encourages everyone to give it a go, mentioning that the way he carves isn’t hard to do, it just takes a little practice. The tradition of challenging himself with intricate pumpkin designs has become a beloved part of Halloween for Jamie and his children.
This creative and heartwarming Halloween tradition in the McKenna family showcases the power of creativity and bonding over shared experiences. It goes to show that simple moments of shared joy and creativity can make holidays like Halloween even more special for families. With each year, Jamie McKenna’s pumpkin carving skills are put to the test by his children, resulting in truly spooktacular creations that bring happiness and wonder to their Halloween celebrations.